Sheet stacking machine

ABSTRACT

A horizontally flat base reciprocates under hydraulic power between sheet stacking and banding positions, the base supporting a tiltable plate onto which metal sheets are dropped successively from a shear, gravitating into rear engagement with gauging posts. A hydraulically operable, upright front gauge plate moves into engagement with the front of the stack to true the latter; and opposed hydraulically operable gauge plates act similarly upon the stack ends. Ways on the tiltable plate receive flexible steel banding strips beneath the gauged stack when the base has shifted it forwardly from stacking position to a position at which a banding machine operates.

United States Patent Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite At:orneyWhittemore,1-1ulbert & Belknap ABSTRACT: A horizontally flat base reciprocates under hydraulic power between sheet stacking and banding positions, the base supporting a tiltable plate onto which metal sheets are dropped successively from a shear, gravitating into rear engagement with gauging posts. A hydraulically operable, upright front gauge plate moves into engagement with the front of the stack to true the latter; and opposed hydraulically operable gauge plates act similarly upon the stack ends. Ways on the tiltable plate receive flexible steel banding strips beneath the gauged stack when the base has shifted it forwardly from stacking position to a position at which a banding machine operates.

PATENTEU SEPI 419?:

SHEET 1 UF 4 a INVENTOR.

TRUMAN THOR NFE T FIG.2

PATENTEU SEP 1 4 m: 3,604,343

SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTOR. TRUMAN THORNFELT gaff if :4 W10 J ATTORNEYS PATENTED SEPI 41% 3,604,343

sum 3 0F 4 FIG.4

INVENTOR. TRUMAN THORNF U SHEET STACKING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD The stacking machine will find application in the processing department of an industrial sheet metal distributor or warehouse, or in some cases in a corresponding treating and shearing section of a rolling mill, or in any instance it is desired to expeditiously stack sheared metal sheets in compact upright, truly rectangular bundles, then band them, using known strapping equipment, for sale and shipment to an industrial user. Naturally, applications of related and similar equipment to the stacking and banding of nonmetallic plates and sheets are also contemplated. Indeed, the equipment may well find application in the stacking of tube and bar stock, as severed into like lengths.

I am unaware of any prior art patents dealing with equipment of the nature described in the Abstract for use in the applications just described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Theinvention afiords a structurally simple machine for the stacking and handing purposes, including hydraulically powered, reciprocable base, front gauge and end gauge plates to square up the edges of a stack, then transfer the latter bodily from the stacking position to the banding position, returning to the former once the banded bundle has been removed, as by fork truck.

Reversing hydraulic cylinder units are associated with the gauge plates for the reciprocatory powering thereof, as well as similar but unidirectionally powered hydraulic means associated with the tilt plate on the main base for raising the plate to a rearward inclination. Thus the severed plates or sheets may gravitate to and against upright gauge posts on the tilt plate. Adjustable provisions for the upright gauge plates, particularly the end ones, enable the distance between the latter to be varied as desired, which in turn gives considerable versatility to the equipment in regard to a widely varying size of plate, sheet, bar or tube stock which it cam handle, in effect customizing its operation to orders as received for different sizes.

Hydraulic pressure and return lines connect the cylinders with conventional manual control valve means, so that an operator or attendant standing on a stand or step plate extension of the base may conveniently control all aspects of its operation. The hydraulically powered base which supports the tilt plate and other components has parallel bottom ways which rest upon antifriction load rollers joumaled between pairs of parallel, floor-supported channels or footings, thereby reducing the power requirement for moving the stacker structure and its load between stacking and banding positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, partially broken away, of the stacking machine as viewed in a generally end-toend direction;

FIG. 2 is another fragmentary perspective view, also, partially broken away, of the apparatus as viewed generally in the rear-to-front side sense.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, partially broken away and in horizontal section, of the equipment;

FIG. 4 is a view in end elevation, as from the bottom of FIG. 3 or in direction of the arrow 4 in FIG. 1, being partially broken away to show hydraulic cylinder means for bodily shifting the stacking structure base and its load between the stacking and banding positions;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in transverse vertical section along line 5-5 of FIG. 3, illustrating cylindrical guide provisions for the front side gauge plate;

FIG. 6 is a view in transverse vertical section along line 66 of FIG. 1, showing related type guide provisions used on each of the end gauge plates;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged scale fragmentary view in vertical section on line 7-7 of FIG. 3, illustrating one of two hydraulic tilt plate cylinder units of the invention, an elevated position of the tilt plate being indicated in dotted line;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the tilt plate structure, omitting the cylinder means of FIG. 7, as well as the hydraulic cylinder means actually mounted atop the plate to operate the front gauge;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the tilt plate, showing cylindrical front gauge guide means associated therewith, as well as rear extensions on the plate adapted to support the power cylinder for the front gauge plate;

FIG. 10 is a view in transverse vertical section in line I0- 10 of FIG. 3, illustrating a detail of the antifriction way and load roller support for the reciprocable base of the machine; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic hydraulic flow chart of the hydraulic power and control system of the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As generally shown in assembly in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the hydraulic stacking machine of the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, essentially comprises a massive, front-to-rear extending, floor-mounted footing 12 made up of parallel, laterally spaced pairs of outer and inner upright channels l3, 14, respectively, the top and bottom flanges of which extend outwardly, and between the webs of which channels a series of longitudinally spaced antifriction rollers 15 are journaled horizontally; a laterally end-to-end extending, hydraulically powered horizontal platelike main base 16 of rectangular shape, which is equipped adjacent its ends with parallel bottom slides or ways 17 riding the rollers 15; a rectangular tilt plate 18, also hydraulically powered, which generally corresponds in area to base 16, this plate being pivotally mounted adjacent its rear on the base and having various upright strap guiding rib provisions later detailed; an hydraulically powered upright front gauge plate 20 mounted to slide over the top tilt plate 18 by certain guide means to be described; and a pair of like upright end gauge plates 21, 22 hydraulically powered reciprocably toward and away from one another, provisions for all of the mentioned hydraulic actions being later described.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, of the pairs of upright channels 13, 14 between which the antifriction rollers 15 are journaled, as by stems or shaft 23, the inner channel 14 of each of the two also Serves as a support for an elongated axial cylinder 24, which is appropriately anchored adjacent its end (FIG. 3) to the upright web of the channel, as by strap or like means 25. Cylinders 24 serve to drive the reciprocable base 16, each being provided with fittings 26, 27 (FIGS. 3 and 11) adjacent its ends for the entry and exhaust of hydraulic power liquid. An elongated plunger rod 28 extends rearwardly from the interior of each cylinder 24, i.e., to the left in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rod being fixedly attached to the outer end of an angle iron extension 29 on the rear of base 16, as at a bracket 30 on the upright flange of angle iron 29, though the agency of clamp nuts 31. Within the cylinder the rod 28 is equipped with appropriate piston means (not shown) between the fittings 26,

Thus, upon the reverse powering of the cylinders 24 through their respective end fittings 26, 27 and hydraulic lines to be described, the base 16 and all of the equipment carried thereby are shifted back and forth between what may be termed a rear stacking area A (FIG. 3) and a forward banding area B, or to the right as viewed in FIG. 3, and vice versa. As shown in that figure, rearward extensions 32 of channel iron floor footing structures 12 may serve as supports for attendants step or stand plates 33, as a convenience in overseeing the operation of machine 10.

The movement of the front gauge plate 20 in truing forward edges of the stacked sheets, i.e., to the left as viewed in FIG. 3, is powered by a pair of like parallel and transversely spaced hydraulic cylinders 34, each of which is equipped with inlet and outlet ports or fittings 35, 36 for hydraulic pressure oil adjacent its ends. Each cylinder reversibly powers an elongated plunger rod 37 equipped with piston means (not shown) within and axially between fittings 35, 36 of the cylinder; and each rod, as best shown in FIG. 5, carries at its end a cylindrical head or plug 38 which is slidably received in an elongated tubular guide sleeve 39. These sleeves parallel one another between certain upright rib members (to be described) on the top of tilt plate 18; and the sleeves are fixedly mounted to the top of plate 18, as through the agency of arcuate saddle elements 40 welded to a bracket plate 41, this plate being secured by bolt means 42 to the top of the tilt plate 18 adjacent the front and rear edges of the latter. A generally similar type of welded saddle and bracket means is employed in mounting other guide members of the equipment, and will I be designated generally by the numeral 41 Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the guide sleeves 39 has ahorizontal slot 43 of substantial length opening from its forward end in an outer side thereof, which slots receive 90 inturned guide feet 44 at the bottoms of two parallel upright brackets 45. These welded to the front of forward gauge plate 20, which is shown as being perforated in character; and the intumed feet 44 extend through the guide slots 43 of sleeves 39 and are welded to the plunger heads 38. Thus, a powered reversibly by hydraulic cylinders 34, the front gauge plate is urged rearwardly or to the left (FIGS. 3 and 4) for its stacktruing action, being stably guided by the slotted guide sleeves 39.

The end gauge plates 21, 22 are powered and guided for their approaching movements toward and retractile movements away from each other by provisions generally similar to those associated with front gauge plate 20. Thus, considering FIGS. 4 and 6 in conjunction wit FIG. 1, each of the plates 21, 22 has three elongated tubular guide bars 47, 48 and 49 rigidly secured to the outer surface thereof, as by welding, at points adjacent the top and bottom of the plate. These bars are slidably and adjustably received axialwise in elongated horizontal guide collars 50, which are fixedly carried by an upright rectangular guide frame 51, being welded or otherwise appropriately connected to that frame, for example by angle brackets 52 or cross members 53 welded on the frame.

Shot pins 54 are flexibly chain-anchored to frame 51, these pins being adapted to extend diametrically through holes in the collars 50 and any of a series of diametrically opposed holes 55 in guide bars 47, 48 and 49 spaced lengthwise of the bars. Such shot pin means makes it possible quickly to adjust the extent of projection of either or both of the end gauge plates 21, 22 in relation to the respective movable frames 51, which are the members through the agency of which hydraulic shifting effort is applied to the gauge plates.

To this end, and as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, each frame 51 has a horizontally elongated bottom crosspiece 56, the opposite ends of which extend through inner, mutually facing parallel slots 57 opening from the ends of a pair of parallel guide sleeves 58 of considerable axial length, as are also the slots. Sleeves 58 are, as shown in FIG. 1, rigidly connected to the bottom of tilt plate 18, as by inverted and welded saddle and bracket type members 41', similar to the case of the front gauge guide sleeves 39; the sleeves 58 slidably receive and guide cylindrical heads or plugs 61 of some axial length, but in the present case cylinder power is not applied to piston and rod means fast to these elements. Rather, it is applied to the midpoint of each of the two crosspieces 56 through the agency of a hydraulic plunger rod 62 connected to the piece at a rod end enlargement 62'. See FIGS. 1, 3 and 6. Rod 62 operates in an elongated cylinder 63, the crosspiece being medially secured fixedly to the end of rod 62.

As indicated, there are two rod-cylinder units 62, 63, one for each of the end gauge plates 21, 22, the cylinders 63 being rigidly applied suitably, as by the type of bracket means previously described, to the bottom of the tilt plate 18, equidistant between and paralleling the guide sleeves 58 beneath the plate. Each cylinder 63 has axially spaced intake and discharge fittings or ports 65, 66 for hydraulic operating liquid adjacent the ends thereof; and the plunger rods 62 are equipped with appropriate piston means (not shown) between the ports. In this connection, as well as in connection with the supply and return flow of hydraulic pressure liquid to and from other cylinder units of the system, reference, may be had to the flow diagram of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 4, 7 and 8 best illustrate arrangements for elevating the base-carried tilt plate 18 from a normal, generally horizontal position (solid line in FIGS. 4 and 7) to a more rearwardly inclined position (dotted line in FIG. 7), so that the initial sheared sheet deposited thereon, as well as successive sheets may initially gravitate into restraining engagement with a series of upright guide posts 68 carried alongthe rear of tilt plate 18, which posts are rigidly welded or otherwise rigidly connected in an upstanding relation to plate 18 along that zone.

To this end (see also FIG. 3), the tilt plate is provided with three fixed hinge legs or blocks 69 depending from its bottom in spaced relation to one another and in line adjacent its rear edge, which hinge members are pivotally articulated, as by means of pins 70, to upright hinge brackets 71 carried therebelow by base 16. Adjacent the opposite or forward edge thereof the tilt plate 18 carries a pair of laterally spaced, depending hinge blocks or brackets 72, these being respectively in front-to-rear alignment with the two outermost sets of opposite rear hinge members 69, 71.

As best shown in FIG. 7, the brackets 72 each have pivotally articulated thereto at 73 the operating plunger 74 of an upright hydraulic cylinder 75. This cylinder is pivotally mounted at its lower end, as by a pin 76, to a rugged mounting bracket 78 which is fixedly mounted in depending relation to the main base 16. It is to be noted (FIGS. 1 and 7) that base 16 is slotted from its forward edge in two places 79 to receive and accommodate the swinging action of cylinder 75 as its plunger 74 raises the rear end of tilt plate 18, in a manner indicated in dotted line in FIG. 7. The full upward throw amounts to about 6 inches.

Each of two tilt cylinder 75 has a fitting 80 adjacent its lower end for the ingress and egress of hydraulic liquid, the downward return of tilt plate 28 being under the force of gravity; and stop legs 81 (FIG. 1) adjacent the front of the tilt plate 18 will engage base 16 to limit the downward plate movement. If desired, and as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the structure of tilt plate 18 may be rigidificd by welding elongated stiffening bar elements 82 to the bottom thereof.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and as indicated above, the top of tilt plate 18 supports the front gauge plate guide sleeves 39', it also has a pair of rear extensions 84 which, as braced by a bottom plate 84', furnish support for the cylinder members 34. This maybe done with the use of welded supporting saddle brackets 41' bolted downwardly onto the plate 18 and its extensions 84. Accordingly, it is seen that tilt plate 18 bears all of the means for the guided end-to-end movement of the end plate 21, 22, for the front-rear and vice versa traverse of front gauge plate 20, and for the initial rearward registration at posts 68, of the stack of sheared sheets progressively deposited from above.

Furthermore, one of the front gauge operating cylinders 34 supports a pair of upright lengths 86 of elongated bar stock (FIGS. 2 and 4), which are welded to a side of the cylinder in question. Just beneath the cylinder 34, these lengths fixedly support a terminal box 87, in which certain electrical motor connections and switch means (not germane to the invention) are housed. The bar members 86 also support adjacent their tops, and substantially above the cylinder 34, a horizontal table member 88, upon which four conventional type hydraulic control valve units 89, 90, 91 and 92 are fixedly mounted;

each such unit having an upwardly extending control handle or lever 93. The hydraulic connections of the system in which base units are components are hereinafter described.

Accordingly, it is seen that the tilt plate 18 not only serves as a mounting support for the front gauge plate 20, the end gauge plates 21, 22 and all of the guide and hydraulically operating provisions for these plates, but also for rear gauge or register posts 68, the control valve means for the hydraulic system, and the electrical control connector and other means at box 87. An operator standing upon one the step plates 33 (FIG. 3) may very conveniently watch the operation of the stacker and operate its control valving quickly and confidently in response to varying situations or requirements.

Tilt plate 18 is provided on its top with a number of parallel, end-to-end spaced sheet supporting ribs 95 of inverted U- shaped cross secton; these are elongated in the front-to-rear dimension of plate 18, and are bolted or otherwise secured downwardly onto the top of the plate. This securement may be through the agency of bottom horizontal flange strips 96, each pair of which defines therebetween a slot or way 97 adapted to receive a steel banding tape or strap, once the stack has been completed, trued, and transported from the stacking position A of FIG. 3 to the banding position B.

In order to receive banding straps extending at 90 to those disposed in ways 97, the tops of the sheet supporting ribs 95 are provided with end-to-end extending rows of rectangular notches 99, there being several such rows spaced front-torearwise of tilt plate 18. These notches receive steel banding straps at 90 to those inserted into the ways 97.

FIG. 2 of the drawings shows the hydraulic power supply system of machine as comprising a pump and supply reservoir unit 102 mounted on a horizontal supporting subplatform 103 which is suspended by and beneath the main reciprocable base 16. The pump (not shown) of unit 102 is driven by an electrical motor 104, also carried by subplatform 103, through an appropriate coupling 105. Structural features of the motor and unit 102, save to the extent that they travel with base 16, are not part of the invention and are conventional in nature.

Reference should now be had to FIG. 11 of the drawings, showing the remainder of the hydraulic system by which the various operating cylinders 24, 34, 63 and 75 and their respective plungers are powered. Here the reservoir and pump unit 102 is schematically shown as equipped with an oil filler line 106 and a suitable oil level gauge 107 adjacent one end thereof; while pressure discharge and return lines 107, 108, respectively, communicate with the opposite or pump end of unit 102.

The control valve units 89, 90, 91 and 92 are of entirely conventional type, in which hydraulic pressure liquid, as received directly or indirectly from pump discharge line 107, is thence directed from one of the valve units to its associated cylinder components, being blocked at or bypassed by the other units, all as controlled by an attendants manipulation of the control handle 93 of the several valve units 89, 90, 91 or 92. Internal structural features of those units, which are commercially available, constitute no part of the present invention. By the same token, FIG. 2 involves no effort to depict accurately by reference numeral each of a considerably number of flexible hose connections or lines connecting the various cylinders 24, 34, 63 and 75 with valve units 89-91; for this purpose reference must be had to FIG. 11.

First considering the control valve unit 91 as governing the supply of pressure liquid to the hydraulic cylinders 24 operating the reciprocable main base 16, the manipulation of one or more of the valve operating handles 93 will be such that pressure liquid from pump discharge line 107 will bypass through the valve unit 92, will be blocked from flow through units 89 and 90 and will flow through base cylinder control valve unit 91, thence through an outflow or pressure line 110 of that unit, branching at connections 110 to the intake fittings 26 of the base operating cylinders 24.

Accordingly, the plungers 28 of those cylinders are driven to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1 1, for example, to shift base 16 from stacking position A (FIG. 3) to banding position B. As this takes place, pressure oil at the right side of cylinders 24 voids through outlet fittings 27, branch connectors 111 and return line I 11 back to control valve unit 91. When the stroke of base 16 is to be in the opposite direction, the valves are manipulated in a manner such that the line 111 becomes a pressure line from valve unit 91 and line 110 becomes a return line to that valve.

An entirely similar type of flow circuit connects the front gauge operating cylinders 34 with the valve unit 92. That is, the valve manipulation is such that pressure oil is supplied from pump discharge line 107 to flow only through front cylinder valve unit to its output or pressure line 113, branching through connectors 113' to the intake fittings 35 of the operating cylinders 34. The flow of pressure oil from valve unit 92 through the other units 89, 90 and 91 is blocked off. The plunger rods 37 of cylinders 34 are thus driven to the right, pressure oil voiding from cylinder fittings 36 through branch connectors 114 and a return line 114 back to the control valve unit 92. A different manipulation of the control handle 93 of the valve unit 92 converts line 114 to a discharge or pressure line and line 113 to a return line, with the plungers 37 shifting front gauge plate 20 in the opposite direction. This manipulation of the front gauge plate 20 may need to be made only once, i.e., after all sheets have been stacked for truing up, or the operator may wish to make it several times during the stacking phase. It may also be desirable to separate gauge plate 20 from the front edge of the stack of sheets after they have been longitudinally and laterally banded at area B, in order to afford convenient access of and lift by a fork truck.

Control valve unit 89 is shown as being connected by a pressure or outflow line 115 with the intake fitting 65 of the end gauge cylinders 63, as through branch lines 115', a return line 116 connecting from its branches 116 and the fittings 66 of cylinders 63 with the valve unit 89. A reverse operation of end gauge plates 21, 22 by the plungers 62 of cylinders 63 entails a manipulation of valve 89 whereby line 116 converts to a pressure line and line 115 converts to a return line. It is to be repeated that in the operation of any one of the valve units 89-92, the flow of hydraulic oil from the other three to their associated cylinder means is blocked ofi. Finally, the control valve 90 controls the supply of hydraulic liquid through a discharge or pressure line 117 and its branches 117' to the intake fittings of the hydraulic tilt cylinders 75, thus causing their plungers 74 to operate tilt plate 18, as from the solid line position of FIG. 7 to the dotted line position. In this case, oil in advance of the plungers voids through return line connections 118 back to the valve unit since, as explained above, the swing of the tilted plate 18 back to a more horizontal normal position is under the influence of gravity, the line 117 becoming a liquid return line.

It is seen that the equipment 10 represents a stacking machine for various types of sheared lengths of plate, sheet, tube or bar stock which has a great deal of flexibility in regard to the range of sizes which it will accommodate, involving manipulation as simple as the adjustment of the distance of end gauge plates 21, 22 relative to the bracket structure 51, and the crosspiece 56 of the latter by which the gauges are connected to their operating cylinder means. An unskilled attendant will quickly become proficient in the mode of operation of machine 10, and the custom-type stacking and banding of objects will become a significantly contributing factor in the efficiency of the plant.

I claim:

1. A machine for stacking sheet and like object, comprising a base, said base having an object receiving plate or like member disposed thereon to receive the stacked objects, means including a first gauge member movable relative to said plate member to register an object and/or stacked objects in one directional sense, and gauge means fixed on said object receiving member against which said first gauge member registers said object or objects in said sense, means including at least one second gauge member movable in a direction at 90 to said directional sense to gauge an object or the stack in the lastmamed direction, means for powering and controlling the movements of said gauge members of operations of longitudinally and transversely truing the stack, and means mounting said object receiving member for a tilting action of it and its said gauge means on said base.

2. A machine for stacking and banding sheared sheet and like objects deposited from above, comprising a base reciprocably movable horizontally between one position and another position, said base having an object receiving plate or like member disposed generally horizontally thereon to receive the deposited and stacked objects, means including a first gauge member movable on and relative to said plate member to register and object and/or stacked objects in one directional sense, means including at least one second gauge member movable on said plate member in a direction at 90 to said directional sense to gauge an object or the stack in the last-named direction, and coordinated means for powering and controlling the movements of said base and gauge members in operations of longitudinally and transversely truing the stack.

3. The machine of claim 1, in which at least one of said gauge members has means to adjust its position in relation to the power means therefor, thus to variably control a dimension of the stacked objects.

4. The machine of claim 1, in which said first named gauge means includes an upright post or the like on said objectreceiving member, against which post said first gauge member urges the stack or an object component thereof.

5. The machine of claim 1, in which said object receiving member supports said first and second gauge members and the power means therefore.

6. The machine of claim 5, in which said object-receiving member is provided with way formations to receive banding straps or the like to be applied to the stack.

7. The machine of claim 6, in which said object-receiving member has spaced upright rib or like means on which the objects are deposited, at least some of said way formations being on said rib means.

8. The machine of claim 1, in which said object-receiving member is provided with way formations to receive banding straps or the like to be applied to the stack.

9. The machine of claim 8, in which said object-receiving member has spaced upright rib or like means on which the objects are deposited, at least some of said way formations being on said rib means.

10. A machine for stacking and banding sheared sheet and like objects deposited from above, comprising a base reciprocably movable horizontally between a stacking position and a banding position, said base having an object-receiving plate or like member disposed generally horizontally thereon and tiltable angularly relative thereto to receive the deposited and stacked objects, means including a first gauge member movable on and relative to said plate member to register an object and/or stacked objects in one directional sense, means including at least one second gauge member movable on said plate member in a direction at to said directional sense to gauge an object or the stack in the lastnamed direction, and coordinated, fluid pressure-powered means for powering and controlling the movement of said base and gauge members in operations of longitudinally and transversely truing the stack, including fluid pressureoperated means to control the tilting movement of said objectreceiving member.

11. The machine of claim 10, in which at lest one of said gauge members has means to adjust its position in relation to the fluid pressure power means therefor, thus to variably control a dimension of the stacked objects.

12. The machine of claim 11, in which said first-named means includes an upright post or the like on said object receiving member, against which post said first gauge member urges the stack or an object component thereof.

13. The machine of claim 12, in which said object-receiving member supports in its tilting movement said first and second gauge members and the fluid pressure power means therefor.

14. The machine of claim 11, in which said tiltable objectreceiving member is provided with way formations to receive bandin straps orthe like to be afiplied to the stack.

15. e machine of claim 1 in which said first-named means includes an upright post or the like on said objectreceiving member, against which post said first gauge member urges the stack or an object component thereof.

16. The machine of claim 15, in which said tiltable objectreceiving member is provided with way formations to receive banding straps or the like to be applied to the stack.

17. The machine of claim 10, in which said object-receiving member supports in its tilting movement said first and second gauge members and the power means therefor.

18. The machine of claim 10, in which said tiltable objectreceiving member is provided with way formations to receive banding straps or the like to be applied to the stack.

19. The machine of claim 18, in which said object-receivin g member has spaced upright rib or like means on which the objects are deposited, at least some of said way formations being on said rib means. 

1. A machine for stacking sheet and like object, comprising a base, said base having an object receiving plate or like member disposed thereon to receive the stacked objects, means including a first gauge member movable relative to said plate member to register an object and/or stacked objects in one directional sense, and gauge means fixed on said object receiving member against which said first gauge member registers said object or objects in said sense, means including at least one second gauge member movable in a direction at 90* to said directional sense to gauge an object or the stack in the last-named direction, means for powering and controlling the movements of said gauge members of operations of longitudinally and transversely truing the stack, and means mounting said object receiving member for a tilting action of it and its said gauge means on said base.
 2. A machine for stacking and banding sheared sheet and like objects deposited from above, comprising a base reciprocably movable horizontally between one position and another position, said base having an object receiving plate or like member disposed generally horizontally thereon to receive the deposited and stacked objects, means including a first gauge member movable on and relative to said plate member to register and object and/or stacked objects in one directional sense, means including at least one second gauge member movable on said plate member in a direction at 90* to said directional sense to gauge an object or the stack in the last-named direction, and coordinated means for powering and controlling the movements of said base and gauge members in operations of longitudinally and transversely truing the stack.
 3. The machine of claim 1, in which at least one of said gauge members has means to adjust its position in relation to the power means therefor, thus to variably control a dimension of the stacked objects.
 4. The machine of claim 1, in which said first named gauge means includes an upright post or the like on said object-receiving member, against which post said first gauge member urges the stack or an object component thereof.
 5. The machine of claim 1, in which said object receiving member supports said first and second gauge members and the power means therefore.
 6. The machine of claim 5, in which said object-receiving member is providEd with way formations to receive banding straps or the like to be applied to the stack.
 7. The machine of claim 6, in which said object-receiving member has spaced upright rib or like means on which the objects are deposited, at least some of said way formations being on said rib means.
 8. The machine of claim 1, in which said object-receiving member is provided with way formations to receive banding straps or the like to be applied to the stack.
 9. The machine of claim 8, in which said object-receiving member has spaced upright rib or like means on which the objects are deposited, at least some of said way formations being on said rib means.
 10. A machine for stacking and banding sheared sheet and like objects deposited from above, comprising a base reciprocably movable horizontally between a stacking position and a banding position, said base having an object-receiving plate or like member disposed generally horizontally thereon and tiltable angularly relative thereto to receive the deposited and stacked objects, means including a first gauge member movable on and relative to said plate member to register an object and/or stacked objects in one directional sense, means including at least one second gauge member movable on said plate member in a direction at 90* to said directional sense to gauge an object or the stack in the last-named direction, and coordinated, fluid pressure-powered means for powering and controlling the movement of said base and gauge members in operations of longitudinally and transversely truing the stack, including fluid pressure-operated means to control the tilting movement of said object-receiving member.
 11. The machine of claim 10, in which at lest one of said gauge members has means to adjust its position in relation to the fluid pressure power means therefor, thus to variably control a dimension of the stacked objects.
 12. The machine of claim 11, in which said first-named means includes an upright post or the like on said object-receiving member, against which post said first gauge member urges the stack or an object component thereof.
 13. The machine of claim 12, in which said object-receiving member supports in its tilting movement said first and second gauge members and the fluid pressure power means therefor.
 14. The machine of claim 11, in which said tiltable object-receiving member is provided with way formations to receive banding straps or the like to be applied to the stack.
 15. The machine of claim 10, in which said first-named means includes an upright post or the like on said object-receiving member, against which post said first gauge member urges the stack or an object component thereof.
 16. The machine of claim 15, in which said tiltable object-receiving member is provided with way formations to receive banding straps or the like to be applied to the stack.
 17. The machine of claim 10, in which said object-receiving member supports in its tilting movement said first and second gauge members and the power means therefor.
 18. The machine of claim 10, in which said tiltable object-receiving member is provided with way formations to receive banding straps or the like to be applied to the stack.
 19. The machine of claim 18, in which said object-receiving member has spaced upright rib or like means on which the objects are deposited, at least some of said way formations being on said rib means. 